I'd be curious to look at any other studies, contradictory or complimentary to this one if anyone could post a link.

Yeah, I don't even need to read that to know it's BS. Aero hardly trumps non-aero in perfect conditions, let alone up a mountain. I'll take lower rotational mass and lower overall weight every time when going against gravity. There's a reason you don't see the best climbers in the world using 808s.

Wheelbuilder, or other wheelbuilding sites, will build up Dura Ace hubs with DT Swiss or Mavic Open Pro rims for under a grand. Will be pretty similar to the Dura Ace wheels feel wise, but parts are more easily replacable.
Of course for about 400 you could get ultegra hubs, same rims and 600 bucks worth of tires.

Yeah, I don't even need to read that to know it's BS. Aero hardly trumps non-aero in perfect conditions, let alone up a mountain. I'll take lower rotational mass and lower overall weight every time when going against gravity. There's a reason you don't see the best climbers in the world using 808s.

Up hill you may be right. I'd still like to see some data showing it.

As for aero in perfect conditions, there's a reason you DO see time trialists using 808s.

I just built up a set of Kinlin XR-200 rims with Ultralight hubs from www.bikehubstore.com (rims were from there too) and Sapim CX-Ray spokes. Parts cost was around $350. I got them built for $115 but I sold my Mavic Aksiums for $100 so in total, I spent $365 for a 1300g wheelset. Stiff and light wheelset! Great combo as recommended by many Forum members here!

Don't worry too much, the 'uphill' results in that link are a bit extreme since the example has them going 17mph up hill. I doubt you're going that fast on the mountain climbs you do (in fact, not even the pros go nearly that fast up GMR in a peloton). The gap between weight and aero closes down pretty nicely at 8-10mph on those multiple hour long mountain climbs we have available to us.

As for aero in perfect conditions, there's a reason you DO see time trialists using 808s.

Yes, you see them in time trials because in lab testing under perfect conditions at very specific YAW angles, they are "X seconds faster over 40k." The pros aren't going to take a chance and let the wheels be the reason why they lost by 1 second. Realistically though, rim depth has very little to do with anything. The ride quality and stiffness along with the tire choice probably make a much larger difference. I'm not saying they aren't worth owning though. They are stiffer and tend to be less susceptible to breaking spokes than shallow rims. At least this is what I've been told. I just think they happen look really cool.

I'll believe it when I see it. "Better" is a very subjective word. The Dura Ace c24 wheels have an asymmetrical spoke bed and are engineered better than any hand-built rim out there. They are freakishly stiff and strong, with only a 20/16 spoke count. I'd be willing to bet they are one of the most durable, if not THE most durable aluminum brake track clinchers under 1400 grams. I can vouch for them at 190 pounds. I've beaten the crap out of these things, bunny hopping and all. Still as true as the day I bought them. I can't say the same for my Reynolds mv32c UL wheels that cost more than twice as much. They went severely out of true after only a few hundred miles, were only 60 grams lighter, and had the hassles of a carbon brake track.

There was a guy around here that ran over his DA c24 clinchers with his car on accident. He claims they were still perfectly true and didn't suffer any damage. If you owned these wheels you would be able to appreciate how nice they really are.